1391, "fact of being useful," from O.Fr. utilite "usefulness" (1291), earlier utilitet (12c.), from L. utilitatem (nom. utilitas) "usefulness, serviceableness, profit," from utilis "usable," from uti (see use). As a shortened form of public utility it is recorded from 1930.
capable of substituting in any of several positions on a team; "a utility infielder"
noun
1.
a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation
2.
the quality of being of practical use [ant: inutility]
3.
the service (electric power or water or transportation) provided by a public utility; "the cost of utilities never decreases"; "all the utilities were lost after the hurricane"
4.
(economics) a measure that is to be maximized in any situation involving choice
5.
(computer science) a program designed for general support of the processes of a computer; "a computer system provides utility programs to perform the tasks needed by most users" [syn: utility program]
6.
a facility composed of one or more pieces of equipment connected to or part of a structure and designed to provide a service such as heat or electricity or water or sewage disposal; "the price of the house included all utilities"
1. An economic term referring to the total satisfaction received from consuming a good or service.
2. A company that generates, transmits and/or distributes
electricity, water and/or gas from facilities that it owns and/or operates.
Investopedia Commentary
1. A consumer's utility is hard to measure. However, we can determine
it indirectly with consumer behavior theories, which assume that consumers will strive to maximize their utility. Utility is a concept that was introduced by Daniel Bernoulli. He believed that for the
usual person, utility increased with wealth but at a decreasing rate.
2. Since consumer demand for utilities does not change dramatically with a change in price, these companies are
regulated by the state or provincial and federal governments.
A business that provides an essential service, generally under government regulation. Electric companies, gas transmission firms, and local telephone companies are
utilities.
Main Entry: util·i·ty Function: noun Inflected Form: plural-ties 1: fitness for some purpose or worth to some end 2 a:PUBLIC UTILITYb: a service or commodity provided by a public utility <paid for rent and
utilities>; also: equipment or material used in providing such a service or commodity <an easement limited to purposes of travel which does not include the right to install
utilities —Ware v. Public Serv. Company, 412 Atlantic Reporter, Second Series 84 (1980)> 3plural: stocks or bonds of utility companies
<utilities performed poorly>
Use\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Used; p. pr. & vb. n. Using.] [OE. usen, F. user to use, use up, wear out, LL. usare to use, from L. uti, p. p. usus, to use, OL. oeti, oesus; of uncertain origin. Cf. Utility.]1. To make use of; to convert to one's service; to avail one's self of; to employ; to put a purpose; as, to use a plow; to use a chair; to use time; to use flour for food; to use water for irrigation. Launcelot Gobbo, use your legs. --Shak. Some other means I have which may be used. --Milton. 2. To behave toward; to act with regard to; to treat; as, to use a beast cruelly. "I will use him well." --Shak. How wouldst thou use me now? --Milton. Cato has used me ill. --Addison. 3. To practice customarily; to make a practice of; as, to use diligence in business. Use hospitality one to another. --1 Pet. iv. 9. 4. To accustom; to habituate; to render familiar by practice; to inure; -- employed chiefly in the passive participle; as, men used to cold and hunger; soldiers used to hardships and danger. I am so used in the fire to blow. --Chaucer. Thou with thy compeers, Used to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels. --Milton. To use one's self, to behave. [Obs.] "Pray, forgive me, if I have used myself unmannerly." --Shak. To use up. (a) To consume or exhaust by using; to leave nothing of; as, to use up the supplies. (b) To exhaust; to tire out; to leave no capacity of force or use in; to overthrow; as, he was used up by fatigue. [Colloq.] Syn: Employ. Usage: Use, Employ. We use a thing, or make use of it, when we derive from it some enjoyment or service. We employ it when we turn that service into a particular channel. We use words to express our general meaning; we employ certain technical terms in reference to a given subject. To make use of, implies passivity in the thing; as, to make use of a pen; and hence there is often a material difference between the two words when applied to persons. To speak of "making use of another" generally implies a degrading idea, as if we had used him as a tool; while employ has no such sense. A confidential friend is employed to negotiate; an inferior agent is made use of on an intrigue. I would, my son, that thou wouldst use the power Which thy discretion gives thee, to control And manage all. --Cowper. To study nature will thy time employ: Knowledge and innocence are perfect joy. --Dryden.
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Audio Help [yoo-til-i-tee] Pronunciation Key noun, plural -ties, adjective 
